The Common Market in the News

The Common Market Great Lakes Receives Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub Grant

August 1, 2024

USDA

The Illinois Public Health Institute and the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub have announced their first round of 16 recipients for the Spark and Innovation Collaborative Awards.

The Illinois Public Health Institute and the Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub will work with the Spark and Innovation Collaborative Awards recipients throughout the grant period to support school food system and marketplace improvements and promote systems-level change. The Common Market Great Lakes's Spark Award grant project is titled: “Lowering Adoption Barrier to Regionally Sourced Foods in Chicagoland Schools: Exploring Manufacturing, Food Service Operations and Acceptability of Regional Black Bean and Beef Blended Products in School Cafeterias”.

Boosting Healthy Food Solutions Where They're Needed Most

November 20, 2023

In Ballard Spahr’s most recent pro bono representation of The Common Market, lawyers from the firm’s Business and Transactions Department advised on a strategic merger that extends the nonprofit’s network of healthy food hubs to the Greater Chicago area.

PRESS RELEASE: The Common Market Strengthens Local Food Ecosystem with Acquisition of Local Foods

November 6, 2023

The Common Market, a renowned nonprofit local food distributor, is proud to announce its acquisition of Local Foods, a decade-old local food wholesaler in the Chicagoland area. This strategic acquisition represents a significant step forward in advancing the cause of local, sustainable food while creating a more resilient regional food supply chain.

Webinar: Leveraging the USDA Local Food for Schools Program with State Level Local Food Purchasing Incentives

September 25, 2023

National Farm to School Network

This dynamic 60-minute webinar explores the intersection of the USDA Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS) and Statewide Local Food Purchasing Incentives (LFPIs). This webinar is divided into three sections, each featuring panelists representing states across the nation. Our very own Eliana Pinilla-Ryhal (representing Illinois) helps paint a picture of how existing LFPIs supported the implementation of LFS and how LFS was used to expand existing LFPIs.